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Cumulonimbus clouds are much larger and more vertically developed than fair weather cumulus. They can exist as
individual towers or form a line of towers called a squall line. Fueled by vigorous convective updrafts (sometimes
in excess 50 knots), the tops of cumulonimbus clouds can easily reach 39,000 feet (12,000 meters) or higher.
Lower levels of cumulonimbus clouds consist mostly of water droplets while at higher elevations, where temperatures are
well below 0 degrees Celsius, ice crystals dominate. Under favorable atmospheric conditions, harmless fair weather
cumulus clouds can quickly develop into large cumulonimbus clouds associated with powerful thunderstorms known as
supercells. These clouds form when a front of cool air meets a body of hot, moist air.
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The Netherlands, 19/11/2005
Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria 27/03/2004
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